Printing-press.



U. G. PRITGHARD.

PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18, 1 912.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

awwewboz .G. G. PRITOHARD.

PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18, 1912.

1, 1 1 81,483. Patented 00s. 13, 1914.

Q I 4 SHBETSSHEET Z.

G. G. PRITOHARD.

PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18, 1912.

Patented 001;. 13, 1914.

4 SKEETS-SHEET 3.

lm imam C. G. PRITGHARD. PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.18, 1912.

1,113,483. I Patented 0@t.13,1914.

4 SHEBTSSHEET 4.

WITNESSES INVENTOR A Home UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

CARL G. PRITCEIARD, 0F WARREN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE HARRIS AUTOMATIC PRESS COMPANY, 013 NILES, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

PRINTING-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

Application filed October 18, 1912. Serial No. 726,530.

- ing or other imprinting mechanisms used in velops being consecutively numbered. This requires, where an allotment is to be made according to the numbers. that all the cards or envelops be subsequently collated so as to provide for each number cards or envelops 'for all the dates. For instance, in printing church envelops for weekly ofierings, say on anorder to supply three hundred persons, the printer will run out three hundred envelops all bearing the same date and numbered consecutively from 1 to 300. He then changes the date line and runs off another series of three hundred likewise numbered from 1 to 300. This is continued for fifty-two or fifty-three different dates. The envelops then have to be collated by hand, that is to say, there have to be three hundred piles or stacks each containing fifty-two or fifty-three envelops all bearing the same number but difi'erent dates.

The object of my invention as applied to the foregoing illustration is to change the date in each operation of the press while the number is only changed once in each cycle of operation of the dating mechanism,

so that the full quota of envelops appropriate to each number is obtained without the necessity of collating at the completion of the printing operation. In other words, I propose to change one printing mechanism (the dating) in each cycle of operation of the press, and the other printing mechanism (the numbering) at predetermined points or once in each cycle of operation of the dating mechanism. Similarly, by substituting.

numbering or other imprinting mechanism in place of the dating mechanism, it is possible to produce printed matter bearing two series of numbers, one number being changed at each impression and the other number only at predetermined intervals.

A further object of my present invention is to automatically prevent any change in the dating or numbering mechanisms in the event of the tripping of the printing press; and a further object is to provide simple and highly efficient means for attaining the objects hereinbefore recited.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of aprinting press with my improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation, with parts broken away and others in section. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the mechanism for operating the numbering and dating attachments. Fig. -11: shows the numberingmechanism'c'ontrolling lever and the element by which it is operated once in each cycle of operation of the dating mechanism. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 5-5, Fig. 2. Figs. 6 and 7 are rollers of cially designed. When the impression is tripped shaft 4 is partly turned.

5 designates the dating mechanism and 6 the numbering mechanism. Both mechanisms are carried by a common shaft 7: suitably mounted and having'a gear which meshes with the impression-cylinder gear. The dating mechanism consists of an endless series' of type-carrying links pivotally connected together and located below the printing surface except at a single point where one link at a time is designed to cooperate with the impression cylinder. Each link has a base 8 which is provided with oppositely projecting apertured lugs 9, those of the several links overlapping and being pivotally connected together by pins 10. To the base 8 is secured a retaining plate 12, the longitudinal edges of which are bent toward each other, and being of yielding material will securely hold the type-plate 13. The pins 10 connecting the several links convert the latter into a sprocketchain, said pins being designed to enter recesses 14. formed in peripheral enlargements of a series of rollers supported .by a web 15 keyed on shaft 7. One of these rollers is adjustably mounted in a slot 16 of the. web to enable the proper tension to be placed on the belt. By loosening this adjustable roller sufiiciently the belt may be readily shifted back and forth with reference to the driving roller 17 so as tolocate the imprints in proper relation to the number changing mechanism. The roller 17 is carried by the belt-operating shaft18, and being the roller by which the belt is supported at the time the imprint is made, it has flat bearing surfaces to form firm seats for each link, as shown in Fig. 6.

The operating-shaft 18 of the dating mechanism at its outer end has a pinion 19 which is partially rotated once in each cycle of operation of the machine by the outward movement of the pawl-carrier 20 whose spring-pressed pawl 21 engages the pinion. The pawl-carrier, which is normally held retracted by a spring 22, is loosely ournaled on shaft18 between the pinion and a casting 23 keyed on shaft 7. The pawl-carrier has an outwardly projecting lug 24 upon which is loosely mounted a roller 25. In

each revolution of shaft 7 this roller will engage a cam switch 26 pivotally hung within a fixed cam plate 27 and thereby the pawl-carrier will be moved outwardly to effect turning of the belt-operating shaft 18 to bring a new type-carrying link into position.

The actuating cam switch 26 is connected by an arm 28 and link 29 to throw-oft shaft 4, so that in the event of the impression of the printing press being tripped the cam switch will be moved out of lts normal position to avoid actuating the pawl-carrier.

30 designates a spring-impelled retaining pawl pivotally mounted on casting 23, and held in engagement with pinion 19 to prevent backlash.

The pinion 19 meshes with a gear wheel 31 to rotate it on shaft 7. This gear wheel is detachably secured to a disk 32, and is preferably formed in two parts which may readily be removed, and replaced by a difierent gear, so that the number of teeth may correspond with the number of links in the dating belt. This is of advantage where there are fifty-three date lines to be printed instead of the usual number, fifty-two. This gear wheel 31 makes one complete revolution to one of the dating belt, and it, or more properly its disk 32, has a lug 33 which is designed to effect the actuation of the numbering mechanism 6 once in each cycle of 7-5 operation of the dating mechanism.

The numbering mechanism 6 comprises a numbering head mounted on shaft 7 and in the present instance is shown as supporting the dating mechanism actuating shaft 18, although this is not essential. The pawlcarrier 33 of the numbering head is connected by a link 33 (see Fig. 9) to a shaft 34 which is supported in a bearing 35 as well as in spider 15 and casting 23. At its outer 85 end, adjacent this casting, the shaft 34 has an arm 36 which is engaged by a springpressed lever 37, which lever is fulcrumed on casting 23, and at its lower end carries a lug 38 which is normally in the path of lug 33. Hence, according to the construction shown, the numbering head is changed only once in each revolution of gear wheel 31. It is obvious, however, that by additional lugs on the disk 32 the numbering heads may be changed at predetermined points.

Fig. 9 shows a modification wherein the pinion 19 is replaced by or serves as a ratchet wheel 19 and the gear wheel 31 is replaced by a ratchet wheel 40 of sufficiently smaller diameter not to be engaged by ratchet 19 The pawl-carrier 20 also carries an auxiliary pawl 41 which advances ratchet wheel 40 one tooth at each operation.

Fig. 10 shows a construction which may be used where it is desired to advance the numbering head at each actuation of the dating mechanism, or in other words, where both mechanisms are actuated at each revolution of the press. In this instance the pawl-carrier 20 has a lug 42 which is connected by a link 43 to the actuating shaft 34.

According to the construction shown in Fig. 11, the bracket 44 supported by shafts 115 18 and 34 has a lug 44 on which is pivoted a lever 45 forked at one end to receive a pin of an arm 46 fixed-on shaft 34. The other end of lever 45 carries a In 47 located in the path of a projection 48 o the dating belt, 120 so that once in each cycle of operation of the dating belt, this pro ection will engage the lug 47, which in turn, through its connections, will partially rotate shaft 34 and actuate the numbering pawl frame 33. From 125 bracket 44 extends a short arm 49 which supports a spring 50 for restoring lever 45 to its normal position after being actuated by the projection 48 of the belt. By the use of additional projections 48 the numbering head and numbering attachment for printing presses; that by changing the dates once in each cycle of operation of the attachment and the numbering mechanism only once'in each cycle of operation of the dating mechanism, the dating and numbering of cards or envelops may be efi'ec'ted without requiring the time and care heretofore necessary. It will also be observed that when the impression is tripped the actuating switch of the dating and numbering attachment will be thrown from its efi'ecti-ve position.

Although the dating belt is constantly revolving it is capable of cooperating with the impression cylinder only at a single point;

' and by having the pins connecting the links engage the notches in the supporting rollers a very substantial construction is produced; and also by changing the gear wheel of the actuating mechanism of the numbering attachment the same mechanism may be em:

ployed for printing a greater or lesser number of dates.

The type of construction illustrated by the accompanying drawings has particular reference to the numbering and dating of church envelops while they are being printed, but it is to be understood that I do not confine myself to this particular form of construction, and while the invention is herein shown as adapted to a rotary press, it is capable of adaptation to any style of press as well as to numbering machines, embossing presses, stamping presses, etc.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a printing press, a printing mechanism comprising a plurality of printing members, a second printing mechanism also comprising a plurality of printing members, means for changing the arrangement of the members of said first mechanism in each cycle of operation of the press and for changingthe arrangement of the members of said second mechanism at a predetermined point in the cycle of opera-- tion of said first mechanism, and means for automatically preventing the operation of either mechanism in the event of any interruption'in the feed supply.

2. In combination with a printing press, a plurality of separate and self-contained printing mechanisms each comprising a plurality of shiftable printing members, means for operating said mechanisms, means for changing the arrangement of the members of one mechanism in each cycle of operation of the press and for changing the arrangement of the members of another mechanism at a predetermined-point in the cycle of the former mechanism, and automatically operated means forpreventing the operation of either mechanism in the event of any interruption inthe feed supply.

In combination with-a printing press, a printing mechanism comprising a plurahty'of shlftable printing members, means for operating said mechanism, means for shifting the members of said mechanism at predetermined intervals, a second printing mechanism also comprising a plurality of shiftable printing members, means for opcrating said mechanism, means controlled by the actuation of the former mechanism for shifting the members of the second mechanism at other predetermined intervals, and means for automatically preventing the operation of either mechanism in the event of any interruption in the feed supply.

4. In combination with a printing press, numbering mechanism and dating mechanism for cooperating with the press, means for rotating both mechanisms in synchronism with the press, and means for changing the dating and number mechanism, one being changed in each cycle of operation of .the press and the other at predetermined points in each cycle of operation of the former.

5. In combination with a printing press, a plurality of separate printing mechanisms each comprising a plurality of changeable printing members, a shaft for changing one of said mechanisms, an auxiliary shaft connected to another of said mechanisms, and means connected to said first mentioned shaft for actuating said auxiliary shaft at predetermined intervals in the operation of K said first mentioned shaft.

cooperating therewith, a shaft for operating one of said mechanisms, an auxiliary shaft connectedto another of said mechanisms, and means controlled by the actuation of said operating shaft for actuating the auxiliary shaft at predetermined intervals.

7. In combination with a printing press, a plurality of separate changeable printing mechanisms, a plurality of shafts for changing said mechanisms, means for actuating one of said shafts in each cycleof operation of the press, and means controlled by said actuating means'for actuating another of said shafts at predetermined intervals.

8. In combination with a printing press, having an impression cylinder, a rotary shaft operable in synchronism with said cylinder, printing mechanism consisting of an endless belt mounted on said shaft, means for advancing said belt once in each cycle of operation of said shaft, :1 second printing mechanism also carried by said shaft, means for actuating said second printing mechanism once in each cycle of operation of said belt, and means actuated by the actuation of the first mentioned mechanism for operating the actuating means of the second mentioned mechanism,

9. In combination with a printing press having an impression cylinder, a rotary shaft operable in synchronism with said cylinder, printing mechanism comprising an endless belt, a support for said belt carried by said shaft, an operating shaft for said printing mechanism, means for actuating said operating shaft in each cycle of operation of the first-mentioned shaft, a pawl connected to said actuating means, and a wheel mounted on the first-mentioned shaft and in mesh with said pawl, the number of teeth on said Wheel corresponding with the number of type faces on said belt. In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CARL G. PRITCHARD. \Vitnesses A. D. LooP, EUGENE \VI'rHnRsToY- 

